Rare 2,500-Year-Old Cypriot Coin Discovered on Ashdod Beach

A rare coin dating back approximately 2,500 years, originating from Cyprus, was recently found on a beach in Ashdod, Israel. The coin was discovered about a month ago by Avi Tzafrak, deputy director of the Ashdod Beaches Department, who often assists visitors in locating lost items. Upon finding the unusual coin during a routine search, Tzafrak handed it over to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) in accordance with the law.

After professional examination, the IAA confirmed the coin is the first of its kind discovered in Israel. The coin was minted in the ancient city of Salamis on Cyprus around the mid-5th century BCE during the Persian period. It is a "siglos" coin weighing about 11 grams, made of a metal coated with silver, a known practice on Cyprus at the time due to silver shortages.

The coin features an image of a ram on one side and a ram's head surrounded by a square incuse frame on the other, along with a vertical laurel branch and three symbols likely in Cypriot syllabic script. According to Yaniv David-Levi, a coin expert at the IAA, coins of this size and value from the Persian period are rare in archaeological finds, as they were often cut into smaller pieces for local trade. The discovery of a complete coin on the coast is therefore exceptional and significant.

Evangeline Markou, a specialist in ancient Cypriot coins from the National Research Foundation of Greece, noted that Salamis coins from the 5th century BCE are known throughout the eastern Mediterranean, and verified find spots like this provide valuable insights into trade and maritime connections between Cyprus and the Land of Israel during the Persian era.

The circumstances of the find and accurate reporting allow researchers to use the coin as a source of information on economic and maritime relations in the region 2,500 years ago. Avi Tzafrak received a certificate of appreciation for reporting and transferring the coin to the state treasury. He expressed pride in contributing to Israel’s historical research.

Heritage Minister Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu praised the discovery as tangible evidence of ancient maritime and trade links between Israel and Cyprus and commended Tzafrak’s responsible actions. He emphasized the importance of public cooperation in reporting antiquities to preserve national heritage and deepen understanding of the country’s past for future generations.